Beech Grove official accused of bullying employees denies the accusations

Dan McMillan, elected clerk treasurer in Beech Grove in November 2011, denies accusations in a council report that say he bullied and intimidated employees.
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Provided by Beech Grove clerk treasurer’s office
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Beech Grove Clerk Treasurer Dan McMillan is being portrayed as a workplace bully — yelling at and belittling employees — in an internal investigation by the Beech Grove City Council.

He strongly denies the accusations.

"I'd just like to comment on this so-called investigation; I call it a witch hunt," McMillan said during Monday's council meeting. "I deny any and all accusations made in this report."

Council President Ed Bell released the three-page report at the meeting Monday, but the council itself took no action.

"The report speaks for itself," Bell said.

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Beech Grove City Council President Ed Bell released a three-page report on Clerk Treasurer Dan McMillan at a council meeting on Monday, July 7, 2014. The investigation of McMillan began in April.(Photo: Vic Ryckaert/The Star)

There's not much more the council could have done, said Andy Downs, director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics, based in Fort Wayne.

When elected officials clash in Indiana, only voters can take them down.

"The council has minimal power," Downs said. "There is little they can do other than symbolic gestures, but some of those symbolic gestures would be pretty big."

Councils can launch investigations and pass resolutions, but they can not suspend or remove an elected official from office. Indiana does not allow voters to recall elected officials, which happens in California, Ohio and about 17 other states.

One striking thing about the Beech Grove showdown: Bell and McMillan are both Democrats.

But Downs said party alignment or backing tends to mean less in small-town politics. When vote totals are slim, he said, candidates don't need to spend a lot or secure help from a political party.

"In small towns, you can still win an election with shoe leather, even if you get on the outs with party leadership," Downs said.

In November 2011, McMillan won the office with 1,810 votes, while his Republican opponent received 1,540 votes.

The Beech Grove Council's investigation, which began in April, cites interviews with nine current employees, including most department heads and five former employees who worked for McMillan. None of the employees are identified in the report.

The report accuses McMillan of rude and aggressive behavior. It also blames him for high turnover in his office, noting that about 10 employees have quit since 2011.

McMillan said turnover is high because pay is low. He called the allegations "petty." The report, he said, is filled with unfounded accusations from unnamed employees.

"I do not work for the mayor, the council or the department heads. I work for the citizens of Beech Grove and I try to provide a budget each year that is responsible," McMillan said. "Consequently, when you consistently tell people 'No,' you're not a popular person."

Just who will get the tab for this investigation is not yet clear. The city lawyer cited a conflict of interest, so the council hired the law firm Ogletree Deakins.